Northumbria Healthcare receives successive Outstanding

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded the highest possible CQC rating – Outstanding – for the second successive time.

The trust scored Outstanding for services being effective, caring and responsive, with the Care Quality Commission detailing the extraordinary efforts staff have made, particularly in maternity services. The inspectorate recognised staff in the maternity department for being committed to the trust’s vision, for embedding change and for their commitment to on-going training. The department was also considered to be exceptionally well led – with senior members of staff both visible and accessible.

Other areas noted for Outstanding practice included: an observational tool for preventing falls (AFLOAT) in patient; a multi-disciplinary cough service based across three sites which used speech and language therapy to great effect; an academic respiratory (COPD) programme; and stroke services were praised for increased performance and patient outcomes. 

The trust was one of a handful of organisations to be rated Outstanding in 2016 and it is almost unprecedented to be awarded the honour twice.

Sir James Mackey, chief executive of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I am beyond delighted with the ‘outstanding’ rating we have been awarded today. It is a credit not only to our staff but also to our ethos of placing the experience of care for our patients right at the very heart of our organisation. I have, and will always say, that our staff are the backbone of this organisation and never is that more true than today – I am forever grateful for their unwavering support and commitment. 

“The NHS has undoubtedly become more challenging in the four years since our last inspection and it is credit to everyone’s hard work and dedication that we have remained at the pinnacle of healthcare in this country and indeed the world whilst uniquely maintaining strong performance and financial resilience. While as a trust we are delighted, it is most importantly great news for our patients and communities across Northumberland and North Tyneside, all of whom can be rest assured that, if they need to use our services, they will be treated by some of the best staff in the NHS and receive the highest possible standards of treatment and care."